THREE MEXICAN NATIONALS CHARGED AFTER MORE THAN 1300 POUNDS OF MARIJUANA DISCOVERED ABOARD A FISHING VESSEL

(BROWNSVILLE, Texas) – Three Mexican nationals have been arrested and a fishing vessel and more than 1300 pounds of marijuana have been seized near South Padre Island, United States Attorney Tim Johnson announced today.

Francisco Montes De Oca Pablo, 33, and Luis Evangelino Aguilar-Ramirez, 36, both of Matamoros, Mexico, and Antonio Guerrero-Saldana, 36, of Vera Cruz, Mexico, were arrested on Feb. 7, 2010, and charged with conspiring to and possessing with intent to distribute approximately 594.85 (1308.67) kilograms of marijuana. All three defendants made their initial appearances in federal court yesterday and have been ordered temporarily held without bond pending a preliminary examination and detention hearing set for Friday, Feb. 12, 2010.

At approximately 12:15 a.m. on Feb. 7, 2010, Immigration and Custom Enforcement agents with the assistance of the Customs and Border Protection Marine Interdiction (CBP - MIA), CBP Border Patrol Ft. Brown station, the U. S. Coast Guard -South Padre Island Station, CBP Air and Marine (Brownsville/McAllen) and the South Padre Island Police Department intercepted and ultimately seized a Mexican fishing vessel on the north end of South Padre Island, Texas, after the load of marijuana was discovered aboard the vessel. According to allegations in the criminal complaint, the three defendants were allegedly aboard the vessel and were apprehended after the vessel landed on the beach near the north end of the island.